Word processing software

[lukeniknak]

I just got my first Mac and I need some word processing software, preferably something that I can save in Microsoft Office format so I can print it at college.

Whats the best thing to buy?

[Ray Brady]

Pages is Apple's proprietary word-processing software. It shares much of Microsoft Word's functionality, and can read and write Word documents seamlessly. Unlike Word, it's also only $20.

[GGJstudios]

Originally Posted by lukeniknak

I just got my first Mac and I need some word processing software, preferably something that I can save in Microsoft Office format so I can print it at college.

Whats the best thing to buy?

I prefer MS Office for Mac, for maximum compatibility with Windows users. If you don't want MS Office for some reason, there are many alternatives, such as iWork, NeoOffice, LibreOffice, OpenOffice, Google Docs, etc. Searching the forum will reveal dozens of threads discussing these various alternatives and the pros and cons of each, such as this small sampling:

MS Office 2011 and Retina Display
Microsoft Office 2011 on Retina Macbook Pro
Microsoft office on retinaMountain Lion & MS Office 2011
Microsoft Confirms Office 2011 and 2008 Compatibility with OS X Mountain Lion
Microsoft office 2011 compatable with mountain lion?
Poll: iWork vs Office vs something else
Office or iWorks?
iWork (09?) VS Office 2011 for Mac
Office 2011 Mac vs iWorks?
iWork 09 vs Office 2011 on MBA
Poll: MS Office for Mac 2011 vs iWork
Poll: Office or iWork?
iWork vs MS Office 2011 for the basic user

[Spikeywan]

Check with your employer. I was able to download Office for Mac via the Home Use Program for £8.95.

[maflynn]

Originally Posted by lukeniknak

Whats the best thing to buy?

I recommend MS Office, that provides the most function and features, along with compatibility with office docs. Short of that there'sLibreoffice which is open source and very powerful

[960design]

I prefer Pages, Numbers, Keynote to Mac Office Suite ( it really is a PITA ).

[James Craner]

If you create mainly simple text documents without too much formatting, then Pages may be fine. It is a very capable word processor and a lot cheaper than Word. Although it does have an export to Word option, you may get some small conversion issues. If you only need to print, Pages has the capability of exporting to PDF. If you use that method you will preserve your formatting and you should have no problem printing on another computer.

[isephmusic]

my mac came with iwork so i got microsoft office. i definitely use word tons more than pages

[dazed]

Its worth getting Office. There will be less chance of problems when taking it to college since thats probably what they use.

It would suck to get there and find that reports format didn't save properly.